Laminated railroad crossing



Sept. 16, 1941. P. E. HOAK l LAMINTED RAILROAD CROSSING Filed sept. :5,1940 ATTORNEYS QNNQNS um SSM@ N INVENTOR.

*P6/Egg, @Jaa/a @uw KNSM,

w NQNMNN mllm Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITE srriss 'l` OFFIC 6 Claims.

My invention relates to crossings of the sort adapted to provide aroadway over railroad beds. Among the objects of my inventionis theprovision of a new and improved crossing which is simple inconstruction, easy to install and capable of withstanding wear over along period of time.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a new and improvedlaminated crossing for railroad tracks which is built in units sothat itcan be installed unit by unit in such size as may be suitable for anygiven location, and which includes improved means for holding the partsof each laminated unit rmly in position.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a new andimproved laminated railroad crossing built up of individual units whichare positioned end to end alongside of and between the tracks, with astrap at the adjoining ends of adjacent units positioned so as to securethe ends of the units to the railroad tie and also to hold the laminatedelements of each unit together.

Also among the objects of my invention is the provision of a new andimproved highway structure which features a laminated unit plankconstruction for bridging the gap between railroad rails comprising aplurality of units placed side by side and secured to the ties by strapswhich underlie the rails to provide an anchor and which overlie thelaminated elements comprising the unit so as to hold them down againstthe railroad tie and also to hold them in position side by side. Thelaminated structure is especially adapted to provide a certain amount ofgive so that even though portions are depressed while a train is passingon the track, there will be no distortion of the unit elements as suchsince all are bound together and likewise bound to the ties whichsupport the rails.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing. Although the invention is susceptible of a varietyof embodiments, it is unnecessary to fully describe and illustrate morethan one in order to give a full understanding of the invention bothfrom its structural and functional standpoints. Accordingly, I haveillustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

road crossing showing units positioned end to end ingroups of threeacross the right of way.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section drawn to a larger scale, taken on theline 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section drawn to a larger scale, taken on the line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of my inventionshowing its application to rails of a greater depth.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the straps used inthe center portion of the crossing; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the straps used on the outsideunits of the crossing.

1n the building of railroad crossings which are ordinarily designed tocarry a highway vacross a railroad right of way, one of the principalrequirements is that the crossing have a certain amount of flexibilityso that it will shift slightly as the track and ties give during thepassing of a heavy train, but which will return to a firm even surfaceafter the train has passed without causing any of the anchoring means towork loose, eventually causing disintegration or misalignrnent of thecrossing. If a rigid structure were used it would not ordinarily followthe give of the ties, and although initially providing a firm smoothsurface, the securing means of whatever sort might be selected, wouldeventually work loose and cause the crossing to deteriorate. Byproviding a laminated structure, each element is permitted a limitedamount of temporary displacement without the necessity of shifting theentire crossing to conform with it. Likewise of advantage is the abilityto make up crossing units at the mill so that they can be quicklyinstalled at the crossing while trains are frequently passing withoutcausing any interruption in the service.

In the drawing there is shown a railroad right of way indicatedgenerally by the character ii) having tracks l2 and l supported by tiesi6 which in turn rest upon a road bed i8 of gravel or cinders. Thetracks l2 and I4 are spiked to the ties it by use of the usual railwayspikes 20.

The laminated crossing consists of outside units indicated generally bythe character 22 and inside units indicated generally by the character2li.

The outside units are constructed of individual planks 26 set on edge,as shown particularly in Figure 3, extending along the outer ends of theties i6. Ten of these planks are shown in the embodiment selected forthe purpose of illustration placed side by side with the innermost plankFigure 1 is a plan View of my laminated rail- 55 adjacent the railshortened so that the surface of the unit can be brought up snug againstthe rail while maintaining a smooth upper surface. The planks arenormally spiked together, the spikes being shown in cross-section at 64in Figure 2. In addition, there is provided a strap 28 bent to a U-shapeso that a long leg 30 of the strap overlies the outermost side of theplanks comprising the unit, and extends downwardly over the end of a tieto which it is secured by a lag screw 29, inserted in-the aperture 3|. Ashorter leg B' overlies the innermost plank of theunit, thereby holdingthe planks in their position side by side with relation to each other.'A

Moreover, at the end of the shorter leg 30 there is a projection 33which extends under the head and into contact'with the web ofthe-adjacent Y rail, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The straps arelikewise provided with bolt holes 32 and through on edge on the ties andface to face with respect to the other planks in the unit, the planksbeing spiked together by spikes 64 to hold the planks together. Thedouble L-shaped strap i] is positioned in a groove 66 so that the midportion 54 overlies the outside surace of the plank immediately adjacentthe rail. The lower portion 56 of the strap lies under the rail where itis'iree to shift slightly as the crossing is adjusted to its position.For strength and rigidity an auxiliary supporting rail 68 is placed withthe base against the mid portion Eli of the double L-shaped strap andthe top portion positioned against the web of rail lll, for example, onthe right side as viewed in Figure 3, or the rail l2 on the left-handside. A similar double L-shaped strap 5t is used for the unit on theopposite side of the center por- A tion of the right of way between thetracks and these holes are inserted lag screws 34 extending clearthrough the planks into the ties I6. As shown particularly in Figure .1,the unit at the lower left-hand end has an end 3S abutting an end of themiddle unit at the lower side and it is to be noted that these ends 36and 38 adjoin each other at the center line of a tie. The U- shapedstrap 2B lies half over the end 36 and half over therend 33 so that lagscrews inserted through the bolt holes extend downwardly past the endsof the units into the tie without necessarily being embedded completelywithin the planks of one unit or'another. At the other end of the unit22, at the lower left of Figure 1, another strap 28 is attached a shortdistance inwardly from the free end and is positioned to bind theelements or the laminated structure together side by side as abovedescribed. In this case, the lag screws v34 pass through the bolt holesandV through the crack adjacent the planks and thence into the railroadtie. The lag screw here likewise provides a direct connection betweenthe strap and the tie. without passing through the body of any of theplanks even though not located opposite a free end of the unit.

At the iree end of the laminated unit 22,V at the lower left-hand-end ofFigure 1, there is provided a beveled angle 40 which fits over thebeveled end t2' of the laminated units completely sheathing them. Screwsor lag screws 44 are Y used to attach the beveled angle to the ends ofthe planks. By providing such a beveled angle at the free ends, thelikelihood of their being ripped up by objects carried by a railroadtrain is minimized since thek beveled surface of the angle has atendency to ward ofi such objects and preserve the crossing intact. Seealso Figure 2 showing a crosssection at the ends of the units locatedbetween the rails.

It should be further noted that the straps 28 are positioned in recesses66 so that the upper surfaces of the straps are substantially level witha top surface i8 of the units. The laminated units 2li are built up inwidths somewhat less than one third of the distance between the rails,three units being placed side by side as shown in Figures `1 and 3.

For securing the units 2s to the railroad structure, therelis providedwhat maybe termed a double L-shaped strap 5D, the end of which is shownnFigure 5; The strap 50 has an upper Vportion 52 designed to overlie'theunit, a mid portion 5t and a lower portion 56. The upper portion isprovided with bolt holes 58.

j Toinstall the units 24, one unit identied by the character 24', ispositioned adjacent the rail i4. This unit consists of planks 26positioned is secured in a similar manner. The center unit 24 is thenputin place. Y In each case, lag screws 34 inserted through the boltholes 58 pass the adjacent ends of the planks comprising the units,except the lag screws near the free ends which pass only betweenadjacent planks inwardly from the ends. The free ends 42 of the units 24are beveled and sheathed with a beveled angle @D as described inconnection with the units 22 and as shown at the left end of Figure 2.

' It is of consequence to note that the upper portions 52 of the doubleL-shaped straps are longer than the width of the units Z'so that theycompletely span the width of each unit adjacent the track and extendpart way over the width of thel acting to displace another one of thestraps as the/road 'bed'yields tothe passing of a heavy train. Y'

iIn the'modiedrform shown in Figure 4 railroad tracks I2Yand l are shownhaving a height Agreater thanV the rails shown in AFigure 3. VThisnecessitates building the crossingY up so that its upper surface'fl liesflush with the top of the higher rails.- In order to accomplish this,shims 'I0 are positioned lengthwise with respect to the ties I5 andcrosswise withY respect to the planks comprising the units. The shimskare made of a thickness sufficient to lift the upper edges of theplanks to a plane level with'the tops of the rails l2 and 13. Withthis'construc- Vtion longer lag screws 35- are used sothat they shimcombined.A In other respects the doublev LV- shaped straps;Av are theequivalent of those virst described. It should be noted that the shims'I0 located between the rails have Aa length equal to the combined widthof the three units positioned therebetween, butfthatshims -illloc'atedon the outside of the rails are somewhat shorter than the-width of theuni-ts 22 providing pockets ll to accommodate the edges of the rail baseand the heads of the spikes which hold the rails in place. Rail spacersof equivalent size having webs E8 tov provide a trough for the anges ofwheels rolling on the tracks are positioned between vthe webs I3 of thetracks and the flat side adjacent plank 26'. v

There has thus been provided a laminated railroad crossing capable ofbeing built in units at the mill and quickly and efficiently installedunit by unit at the crossing to provide a roadway over the railroadright of way of whatever width may be desired and one which willmaintain its unitary construction and a surface even with the tops ofthe track throughout long periods of use.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device wi-thout departing'from the real spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, anymodied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and railscomprising a series of laminated units including planks free frominterlocked engagement respectively with each other positioned face toface and resting edgewise on the ties with the long cross sectionaldimension extending veritically, a row of said units being positionedendwise relative to each other in parallel rows covering portions of theties between the rails, means for securing the ends of said uni-tscomprising a set of plates for each end each having an upper elementextending over the full width adjacent the ends of said respective unitslying next to the rails wherein the ends of the upper elements lieadjacent and spaced from each other, an intermediate portion of saidplate overlying the flat vertical side of a plank adjacent the rail, anda lower leg positioned beneath the rail the plates having fastenersextending through said plates and ties respectively to hold the units inplace.

2. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and railscomprising a series of laminated units including planks fastened face toface resting edgewise on the ties, a row of said units located endwisewith respect to each other extending over portions of the ties at theoutside of the rails, means for securing the ends of said units in placecomprising plates having a mid portion overlying the plank edges andends engaging the outermost planks of each unit for binding themtogether and fasteners projecting through the plates extending into theties securing said plates together with the adjacent plank ends to theties, and a second plurality of plank units positioned endwise relativeto each other in parallel rows covering portions of the ties between therails, means for securing the ends of said units comprising a second setof plates for each end each having an upper element extending over thefull width adjacent the ends of said respective units lying next to therails wherein the ends of the upper elements lie adjacent and spacedfrom each other, an intermediate portion of said second plate overlyingthe vertical flat side of a plank adjacent the rail, and a lower legpositioned beneath the rail the plates having fasteners extendingthrough said plates and ties respectively to hold the units in place.

3. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and railscomprising a series 'of laminated units including planks fastenedtogether face to face resting edgewise on the ties, a row of said unitsbeing located endwise with respect to each other covering portions ofthe ties at the outside of the rails, means for securing the ends ofsaid units in place comprising plates having a mid portion overlying theplank edges and ends engaging the innermost and outermost planksof eachunit for binding them together, recesses at the ends of the planks forreception of the mid portions of the plates and fasteners projectingthro-ugh the plates extending into the ties securing said plates,together with the adjacent plank ends, to the ties, and a secondplurality of plank units positioned endwise relative to each other inparallel rows covering portions of the ties between the rails, means forsecuring the ends of said units comprising a second set of plates eachhaving an upper element extending over the full width of the adjacentends of units lying next tol the rails and over a portion of the widthof other units intermediate rows of said last units wherein the ends ofsaid upper elements lie adjacent and spaced from each other, anintermediate portion of each of said second plates overlying thevertical flat side of a plank adjacent the rail, and a lower leg of eachof said second plates positioned beneath the rail, recesses at the endsof planks in said units adapted to receive the second plates, andfasteners extending through said plates and ties respectively to holdthe units in place.

4. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and railscomprising a series of laminated units including planks attachedtogether face to face resting edgewise on the ties, a row of said unitslocated endwise with respect to each other extending over portions ofthe ties from a point at the outside of the rails to the ends thereof,means for securing the ends of said units in place comprisingsubstantially U-shaped plates, recesses at the ends of the planks forreception of the mid portions of the U-shaped plates, the legs of saidU-shaped plates overlying the outermost innermost planks at each sideand fasteners projecting through the plates past the ends of said planksextending into the ties securing said plates, together with the adjacentplank ends, to the ties, and a second plurality of plank unitspositioned endwise relative to each other in parallel rows coveringportions of the ties between the rails, means for securing the ends ofsaid units comprising substantially double L-shaped plates having anupper leg extending over the full width of the adjacent ends of saidrespective units lying next to the rails and over a portion of the widthof other units intermediate rows of said last units, an intermediatevertical portion of each said L-shaped plates overlying the nat verticalside of a plank adjacent the rail, and a lower leg of each said doubleL-shaped plate positioned beneath the rail, a spacer positioned betweensaid portion and the adjacent track rail, recesses at the ends of planksin said units adapted to receive the double L-shaped plates, andfasteners extending through said plates and ties respectively to holdthe units in place.

5. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and railscomprising a series of laminated units including planks attachedtogether face to face resting edgewise on the ties, a row of said unitsbeing located endwise with respect to each other covering portions ofthe ties from aV pointat the o utsdeof` the rails to the endsthereof,71neans for securing the ends of wise Irelative, to veach otherin parallel rows ex-A tending over portions of the tiesY between therails, means for securing the ends of said units comprisingsubstantially double L-shaped plates having an upper leg extending overthe full width of the adjacent ends of Vsaid respective units lying nextto the rails and over a portion of the width` of Aother unitsintermediate rows of said last units, an Yintermediate verticalYVportion of each said VL-shapedV plate overlying the vertical at side ofa plank adjacent the rail, a spacer positioned between said portion andthe adjacent track rail, anda lower leg of each said double L-shapedplate positioned beneath the rail and terminating beneath the side wallof the plank adjacent the rail `Von the opposite side thereof, recessesat the ends of planks in said units adapted to receive the doubleL-shaped-plates vto a depth ilush with the surface of said planks, andlag screws extending through said plates and ties respectively to holdthe units in place.

6. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and railscomprising a :series of laminated units including planks spiked togetherof said units being located endwise with respect to' eachother extendingover portions ofthe ties from a pointatthe outside of the rails to theends thereof, means for securing the ends of saidl units vin place'comprising substantially U-shaped plates, recesses at the ends of theplanks for reception of 4the mid portions of the U-shaped plates at alevel flush with the surface of the plank, the legs of said U-shapedplates overlying the Voutermost lplanks at each side and lag'screwsprojecting through the plates extending into the ties securing saidplates, together with the adjacent plank ends, to the ties, and a secondplurality of plank units positioned endwise relative to each other inparallel rows covering portions of the ties between `the rails, meansfor securing the ends of said units comprising substantially doubleL-shaped plates having an upper leg extending over the full widthadjacent the endsof said respective units lying next to the rails andover a portion of the width of other units intermediate said last units,a vertical intermediate portion of said L-shaped plate overlying thevertical at side of a plank adjacent the rail, a spacing rail positionedsidewise between said portion and the adjacent track rail, and a lowerleg of said double L-shaped plate positioned beneath the rail,recesses'at the ends of planks in said units adapted to receive thedouble L-shaped plates to a depth flush with the surface of saidplanksplag screws extending through vsaid plates and tiesrespectively tohold the units in place, and angle plates independent of the ties insaid Y road bed fastened only to said units and cover-v

